On 1 March 2027, Shopify will stop loading script tags on online stores. Script tags are an older way for apps to add features to your shop, and lots of stores still rely on them without knowing it.
If one of your apps uses them and hasn't been updated by then, the feature it adds will simply stop appearing. That could be review stars, a chat button, a pop-up, a size chart or a tracking code. Shopify won't send you a warning when it happens, and your store will look fine in the admin.
A missing review widget or a broken sign-up pop-up costs sales quietly, often for weeks before anyone notices. The good news is that there's plenty of time to check your store and sort it out.
What are script tags?
A script tag is a small instruction an app gives Shopify: "load this piece of code on every page of the store". It was a simple way for apps to add things to your storefront without editing your theme.
The catch is that script tags are hidden from you. They don't appear in the theme editor, there's no list of them in your Shopify admin, and you can't switch them on or off yourself. Only the app that added a script tag can change or remove it.
Shopify's newer approach is the theme app extension. Instead of injecting hidden code, apps add app embeds and app blocks that you can see in the theme editor and switch on or off yourself.
What's changing, and when
Shopify announced the change in its developer changelog. There are two dates to know:
- 1 October 2026 (already passed): apps can no longer create new script tags or update existing ones. Script tags already on your store keep working for now.
- 1 March 2027: Shopify stops loading script tags on storefronts. Anything an app still adds this way stops appearing on your store.
Shopify is asking app developers to replace script tags with app embeds in a theme app extension. Scripts that only collect analytics or conversion data should move to web pixels, which run behind the scenes and don't need anything from you. Shopify's guide for developers is here.
What could break on your store
Any app that adds something to your storefront could be affected, if it still uses script tags. The kinds of features to think about include:
- Product review stars and review widgets
- Live chat and help buttons
- Pop-ups, email sign-up forms and announcement bars
- Upsell, cross-sell and "frequently bought together" widgets
- Size charts, badges, countdown timers and trust icons
- Tracking and analytics codes, such as ad pixels
- Currency converters, translators and accessibility tools
Many app developers have already moved to app embeds, so plenty of stores won't lose anything. The trouble is knowing which of your apps have moved and which haven't.
How to tell if your store is affected
This is the hard part. Because script tags are hidden, there's no simple screen in Shopify that tells you which apps still use them. You'd normally need to look through your store's code or ask each app's developer.
That's why we're building App Health Check. It's coming soon to the Shopify App Store. It will check your store in seconds, list any apps that will stop working on 1 March 2027, give you plain advice for each one and write a ready-made message you can send to the developer. It also flags app embeds that are switched off in your live theme.
Don't want to wait? Email us at support@amethystapps.com and we'll check your store for you and tell you what needs doing.
What to do about each affected app
Once you know which apps are affected, work through them one at a time:
- Update the app. Many developers have already released versions that use app embeds. Open the app from your Shopify admin and look for an update, a setup step or a prompt to enable it in your theme.
- Switch on its app embed. Go to Online Store > Themes > Customise, then open App embeds in the left-hand menu. Turn on the embed for the app and save. If the app has moved to app embeds but this switch is off, the feature won't show.
- Ask the developer. If you can't tell whether an app has been updated, contact its developer and ask whether it will work after Shopify stops loading script tags on 1 March 2027.
- Replace apps that won't be updated. If a developer has no plans to update, look for an alternative well before March so you have time to set it up and test it.
After any change, check your live store on a phone and a computer to make sure everything still appears where it should.
Frequently asked questions
Is my store broken now?
No. Existing script tags keep working until 1 March 2027. Since 1 October 2026, apps just can't add new script tags or change existing ones.
Can I remove a script tag myself?
No. Only the app that added a script tag can remove it. If you uninstall an app, Shopify removes the script tags that app added.
What are app embeds?
App embeds are Shopify's newer way for apps to add features across your store. You'll find them in Online Store > Themes > Customise > App embeds, where you can switch each one on or off without touching any code.
Will Shopify warn me before things stop working?
Don't count on it. Shopify has told app developers, but script tags are hidden from merchants, so there's no list in your admin showing which apps are affected. It's best to check your store yourself.
Does this affect my checkout?
This change is about your online store's pages. Script tags already stopped running on the order status page under an earlier Shopify change, so your storefront is the last place they still run. Checkout has its own, separate rules for custom code.
Get your store checked
1 March 2027 might feel a long way off, but app developers need time to update and you need time to test. Starting now means no nasty surprises in the spring.
App Health Check is coming soon. Visit the page and choose Ask to be notified at launch to hear as soon as it's available. Until then, or if you'd rather we handled it, email support@amethystapps.com. We'll check your store, tell you which apps are affected and help you fix them. You can also see our other Shopify apps and our Shopify SEO and e-commerce services.
Kevin Hunter, Amethyst Apps
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